*Note: PLEASE people, please be patient! I know I'm slow, but you all have to understand that I am far too busy to think right now with everything that's going on in my life, okay? Thank you...I hope with what I said won't affect you guys of not reviewing anymore. There might be like two or three chapters left in this story, depending how it turns out. ^_^;
Chapter 9 - The end...?
"Are you sure this is what you want, Noa?" Gala turned his head towards the girl, his question answered by a slight nod. Noa approached Liza and Arch quietly and looked into the older woman's eyes.
"Where are they now?" she asked.
Liza placed a hand on her shoulder. "We promise to protect you with our lives, Noa. Once Kaseru is defeated, there will be no Kingdom for you, Princess-"
"I don't care about Conkram!" Noa yelled, interrupting Liza. She slapped her hand away from her shoulder and looked at her angrily. "Don't call me Princess, Liza. I asked you a question! Where is he now?!"
Liza nodded. "You know the place, Noa. It is where you grew up. If he's there, then both Vahn and Cort will be there as well."
Noa's eyes glowed. "The mountain..."
"Since Terra died in those mountains, her soul still lingers there and with a soul of a Ra-Seru still active, along with the blood of the one who summoned the Serus, combining them will bring back the deadly mist and the Serus," Arch explained. Liza glanced at Arch. He never mentioned anything else other than her spirit lingered. Noa, may never know the truth. Somehow, she'll eventually tell her.
Gala clenched his fists, glaring at Arch. "Who is this Kaseru? Why does he want to revive Conkram?!"
Liza turned to face Gala. "Conkram is the place where evil grows and Kaseru is one of them, that is why he is there. Long time ago, an evil sorcerer was sealed in the depths of Conkram's earth. He wanted Conkram for himself, but we... Arch and I and the many warriors who fought against him and his Seru henchmen and his power of his mist, sealed his fate into a tomb. With his power however, he was able to connect with one of the royal family..." She paused, glancing at Noa. "He was able to make contact with Cort when he was a child and persuaded him to open the tomb. But, it was not planned that Cort had a strong heart and had a will of his own. Cort alone released only the mist, revived it and was controlled by its power. Soon, the Serus were released, bringing havoc upon the world, but Kaseru was still trapped inside his tomb, never to be seen again."
Mei gasped. "But... how did he escape?" She glanced at Arch to explain this time.
"That is a mystery to us. We were awakened by the powers of the Earth and of the Genesis trees from our sleep and were sent to destroy Kaseru again. They never explained how they escaped, but they mentioned that someone of his blood line was able to release him."
"Someone of his blood line? Are you saying that he had a child before he died?" Gala asked, clenching his fists tighter. Why did this have to happen to suddenly without him knowing? Why, the master of the monks did not know about this?
"Yes, apparently. We do not know who, unfortunately."
"Then, we've wasted enough time thinking about this. We have to go to the mountains and get them back..." Noa held a firm expression on her face, but everyone present knew she was in pain within, in pain for losing both the people she loves.
When she said those words, Liza saw the determination in her eyes as well. 'You've grown up so much, Noa,' she thought. She looked at Arch and nodded, then turned back to the other three. "Then, let's go."
"I'm coming with you too," Mei spoke up. Noa and Gala both looked at her, both shaking their heads. "Why not?" she asked, glancing at both her friends.
Noa placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's much too dangerous for you, Mei. There are monsters that still lurk in that area."
Mei sighed. "All right. Please be careful you two."
Gala and Noa nodded in unison.
****************
"Hey kid... do you have something to say?" Kaseru turned his head from where he sat and glared at the little girl watching an unconscious Cort on the floor of the small, glass room. The girl looked at him, wide-eyed.
"What have you done to him?" the girl spoke, frowning. She never wanted this. She wished she were never part of HIS family! Jack... "What have you done with Jack?!"
Kaseru smirked, turning his eyes towards a body across from him, his head bleeding. "He would not co-operate, so I let him rest for a while." He smiled evilly towards the girl. "So if you do the same, you don't need to rest. Will you behave, Mari? I am... after all... part of your family." He stood up and approached the little girl in large steps. The girl, Mari was a better listener than her brother ever was. A tear flowed down Mari's cheeks and was unaware that Kaseru was watching her closely. She felt him sit down beside her, wiping her tears away with his large hand. "Don't cry now, Mari. As soon as the mist comes, I'll let you do whatever you want."
Mari looked up, more tears coming down from her eyes. "Why do you want to hurt people? We're people!"
Kaseru smirked, standing up. "That's where you are wrong, Mari... We are not like people. We are far greater beings than those stupid humans... You, me, your family and Cort. You see, Mari..." Kaseru turned towards the direction of Cort. He noticed that Cort was getting up and he made a smile of satisfaction on his face. "Cort made us so we can be with him, so we can part of him."
"No..." Mari whispered silently, whimpering. "Mommy..."
"There's no point in crying for your mommy, now, Mari. Thanks to your brother, Cort feels anger in his heart so the REAL Cort can come out of his shell. Look...he's getting up." Kaseru lifted up a hand and pointed to where Cort was. Mari looked up and gasped. Cort was now up, his hands by his sides, closed up into fists.
"What? What's wrong with him?"
Kaseru laughed. "He's just finding who he is, that's all. That chamber itself has memories of him when he was an adult and when he ruled over the mist. He is the Prince of Darkness after all. Our master!" He lifted up his hands triumphantly and cackled. "Soon, the humans will kneel at our feet and they will beg for mercy! Soon, the Serus will come!"
"NO! I don't want the Serus to come! They are evil! We're not evil!"
"Oh yes, we are!" Kaseru jerked his head towards her. "You see, Mari, we ARE Serus. We ARE the descendants of the Serus. Thanks to me, I was able to create a family more greater than humans itself and they ARE the Serus!"
Mari stood up. "NO! You're wrong! We are humans, not Serus that would kill anyone in their path! We have emotions; pain, love, feelings that cannot compare to any other beings in the universe! We are humans, Kaseru!"
Kaseru glared down at her. He kicked her by the side, sending her flying towards the spot where her brother was taken down. Mari fell unconscious. He shook his head disappointingly. "I thought I could trust you, Mari, but I guess not. You would have been the greatest heir to the throne of what will be my kingdom!" Kaseru turned back towards the glass chamber and watched as Cort grew in height, faster than light. His eyes and hair grew darker, his hair into a darker shade of brown and his eyes into a darker shade of grey. Kaseru smiled. "Soon, my master. Soon, you are once again the ruler!" Cort was the one. Since the moment he wanted to take him and make him free him, he knew Cort would be the one to bring his mists and his Serus to life. For a long time, for the years he has been freed, he had watched Cort from the day he became a man and kept himself secret from the Ra-Serus so he could see Cort in his eyes and watch him like a father watches his son. The moment Cort took one hold of a Seru and ordered it to do something, that's when Kaseru knew, he was the one...the one the prophechies had told him that one day, a master, far more greater than he will come. His master. "Master..." he whispered through the glass.
Cort glanced at him, his eyes firm and hard against Kaseru's own. He walked to the door and knocked hard on the cold metal. Kaseru ran to open it and was greeted by a hard force against his stomach, sending him flying into the air. Kaseru stood up quickly, regaining from his pain and kneeled down in front of him. "Master, I have freed you once again. Let us open the gates of the mist and free it and free the Serus."
Cort smirked. "Is this what you awakened me for?"
Kaseru looked up. "Yes, Master. I have waited four long years to finally find a key to opening you and I found it in the boy inside you."
"The boy?" Cort raised an eyebrow. "What boy?"
"When you disappeared, Master, I did not know what to do and when I saw that girl with a baby in her arms, I knew it was you inside. I knew that if I made you remember who were before, then I could free you."
"You... are you not a sorcerer?"
Kaseru nodded. "Yes, I am, sir. But you are the Prince of Conkram and I bow before you, my Lord." He stretched his back and bowed even further on the ground.
The man nodded. "I see." He looked up and found a man with blue hair unconscious and hanging on the wall. "Who is that man?"
Kaseru looked up and nodded. "My Lord, he is the one who dares to defy me from freeing you. He wanted to keep you from coming."
Cort smirked and approached the man slowly, studying the man. "He looks familiar to me, somehow."
Damn! Kaseru thought. He must not remember his innocent self. I should have destroyed his innocent self and surround him more with his destructive self. "How is he familiar to you, my Lord?" He slowly got up to grab the large rock lying beside him. He had no other choice. If he remembers everything, even the man and his sister, then he has to kill the innocence in Cort. He slowly crept behind him, ready to strike him the rock, unconscious.
"Do you dare let me forget my memories, Kaseru?!" Cort turned, forcing Kaseru to stop in his tracks, his arms high in the air with the rock in his hands. Cort's eyes grew angrier and with all his might, without even touching him, knocked him into the air. "How dare you!!! Is there something you wish to destroy of me?!"
Kaseru gritted his teeth and sword underneath his breath. "No, not at all, Cort, Master. Now...Master, I wish of something in return for freeing you."
Cort turned to face him. "What do you wish?"
Kaseru grinned. "I wish to free my family, Master. I wish for you to find me the mist generator so once again you can be the master of this world."
Cort stared at him. The older man's eyes seemed surreal in a way, seemed too good to be true when Kaseru stepped closer to him. He could hear the man's voice in his head; he could hear him speaking, as if his mind was no longer there. What was going on? he thought.
"My Master, you will bring me the mist generator. Where is it?" Cort closed his eyes. Kaseru breathed a victory in his head. Yes! It was working! Just a little longer, your highness, he thought. After you find me the mist, then I can free you and you can rule with me. Kaseru stepped closer and slowly put his hands on both his temples. Cort's eyes became blank and his mind was not his own, but of Kaseru's. The older man now owns his mind. "Where is the mist generator, master?"
Cort blankly turned and nodded, leading Kaseru to a dark wall, just near where Vahn was left hanging to the left. He pointed with no thought whatsoever and said, "Here lies what you are looking for," he spoke.
Kaseru's eyes widened. He knew from the moment he laid eyes on that particular side of the wall. The different texture of it grew suspicion in him, the way it was harder than the usual soil in the wall. If it was not the one, then the wall itself would have withered away due to rainfall, but this wall did no such thing. It seemed solid from the many years it has been there. Kaseru smiled. "Yes! I found it! Soon, our family, Cort, will come through this wall and wreak havoc to those pathetic humans!"
*****************
Vahn opened his eyes, stirring in and out of his consciousness. He could hear a hiss from somewhere and when he turned, he noticed Kaseru and a man he has dreaded to see standing in front of a wall beside him. He wanted to open his mouth, wanted to cry out to Noa and wished he had come home to her instead of taking that job to find missing people in this mountain. He never wanted to come to this mountain, but his instincts told him that there was something going on in the mountain, the mountain where Noa spent most of her years. He wished now that he never listened to his instincts.
"Yes! I found it! Soon, our family, Cort, will come through this wall and wreak havoc to those pathetic humans!" Vahn could hear the man talk. He grimaced, thinking of getting out of here and smashing the man to pieces, but how can he when he was strapped to a wall? 'Meta...' he thought. 'I wish you were here still.'
****************
'Meta... I wish you were here still.' Arch paused in his tracks and looked up into the mountains. "Vahn? I can hear Vahn," he spoke out loud.
Noa and Gala turned their heads and looked at Arch curiously.
Liza stared at her boyfriend and shook her head, hoping none of the two could see her reaction towards Arch, however, and Noa had seen it. They were hiding something that they both were not telling. Liza glanced at Noa, who was staring at her, wondering what was going on, but she just smiled and nodded. "We Guardians can hear many thoughts and even pain from other people. That is one of the powers Legaia has given us when we were created to protect the planet. Let's move on." She walked pass Noa, dragging Arch along with her. She turned to him slowly and frowned. "Did you have to say that out loud?" she whispered to him.
Arch sighed. "I'm sorry, it just came to me. Vahn needs my help."
"We know that Vahn needs our help, so does Cort! You have to keep your personal feelings aside from all this, Arch, or our job as Guardians are over."
"Liza..." Noa called. Liza and Arch looked at each other. "Liza!"
Liza turned and smiled. "What is it, Noa?"
"What's going on, Liza? Who are you?"
The woman sighed. "Noa, if I tell you, then we will never be able to leave this world in peace..."
"What? What do you mean?" Gala asked.
Liza shook her head. "You'll find out soon enough. We have to get going."
Noa and Gala looked at each other.
****************
He smirked. "Hmph! So you think you can get through this place easily, huh? Why do you, Ra-Serus, intend to help these humans when you can do so much better?" He watched them fight off a large monster he sent their way and enjoyed the show for a while, until Gala destroyed it with his powerful Art. He should send something bigger and more cunning than the previous monsters he sent, somehow, it was easy for them. "Hm...you're helping these humans, not only physically, but spiritually as well? Clever indeed." Kaseru frowned when another one of his creations was destroyed. He was getting bored with the show so he turned towards his mist generator wall and glanced at his dwarves digging a hall through it. "What's taking so long you idiots?!" He was running out of patients with the small dwarves he created. They were of no use at all. The only thing they were good at was digging, not listening to orders.
One out of the seven of them turned and glared at him bravely. "We are trying as hard as we can, Master!" he hissed, pointing his shovel at him angrily.
Kaseru smirked. "So you think you can just talk to me with that tone? I created you bumbling half-wits with my staff and I can easily kill you with it!" The dwarf's face faltered in disbelief. "Now, get back to work!" The dwarf obediently started digging again.
It was another minute that another dwarf finally spoke, "Master! We hit the jackpot!"
Kaseru sighed in relief, turning his whole body around to face them. He approached the wall quietly and placed a palm on it, feeling heat radiating from the soil. "I feel it. Good job, everyone! Now you can all go away!" He clicked his left hand together and the dwarves simply disappeared with a blink of an eye. "Yes!" He turned to face Cort, who was watching from behind with no thoughts. "It is done, Master! We can finally rule together this insolent planet and be one! We have found the Generator! I knew you would never let me down! Now...to open it!" He stepped back and pointed his staff towards the wall, closing his eyes suddenly to chant the password to opening the door to the generator. Before he could finish one last word, something sharp hit him at the side of his face. Kaseru cried in pain and turned around, the blood from the wound dripping down his robe.
"It is over, Kaseru! Time to bring you home!" Arch stood, bow in hands, ready to strike the sorcerer again. Liza, Noa and Gala stood beside him and they quickly ran, with their fists and weapons ready to charge at any monster Kaseru sends towards them. Kaseru acted quickly, casting shield on himself to protect him and Cort and fired thunder towards Arch. Arch dodged that quickly, firing one of his arrows towards the ropes that were holding Vahn hostage on the wall. With accuracy, the arrow shot through the ropes, freeing both sides of Vahn's hands. Vahn fell on the ground hard, but the soft earth broke his fall and Arch felt relief coming through his heart. He noticed Kaseru with the corner of his eyes ready to strike him with another blow of thunder, but not before he forced his hand down with his arrow. "Gala! Quickly, take Kaseru down!"
With one swift move, Gala grabbed Kaseru's neck, trapping him against the wall behind him, forcing Kaseru to let go of his staff in surprise. He glared at the older man who has been torturing Vahn and Cort's mind. "Time to pay, old man!" he whispered. Kaseru grinned, shocking Gala at his stubbornness.
"No, I think you should pay!" Kaseru hissed, smirking. Before Gala could react, something strong and tall was gripping both his arms. Gala was force against the wall, thus, freeing Kaseru from his grasp and was forced to see who had trapped him.
"Cort..." Gala whispered. Upon hearing Cort's name, Noa looked up and gasped at the sight of a tall man grasping his hand hard against Gala's neck. She opened her mouth to speak, but when she heard Vahn moan, she was forced to turn back to him.
"Vahn!" Noa whispered. She hugged him as tightly as she could, tears running down her cheeks. She was glad he was alive. After all this time, he was trapped in someone's lair, tortured, who knows how long, by Kaseru.
Vahn opened his eyes, his heart beating at the sight of Noa. "Noa..." He was glad she was here. He lifted up a hand and caressed her cheek, making sure he wasn't dreaming. "I'm not dreaming," he whispered. "You really are here."
Noa nodded. "Yes, I am." She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes. Never again will she part from him. Never again will he leave her side.
"Noa, watch out!" Noa looked up once she heard Liza's voice. Something bright and round was coming towards them. Gasping, she quickly stood up, lifting Vahn up with all her might, but he was too heavy and to tall for her to take him somewhere safe. The green ball was getting brighter and larger in her eyes. Vahn tried getting up as well, but his arms and legs were too tired to move. He had been hanging up that wall for three straight weeks now and he has not eaten right. "NOA!" the girl heard Liza scream.
"Noa..." The red head looked down at Vahn, his mouth lifting into a sad smile. "I'm so glad to see you again, but go on ahead and leave me. I don't want to be the reason why you're not with Cort."
The girl shook her head. "I'm not leaving you. I didn't come here to leave you behind. I came here to be with you and Cort." She grabbed both Vahn's arms, trying again to move him, but as she looked up, the same green light was coming closer and it was much too close for comfort. It was too late. Noa kneeled down beside Vahn and hovered her body over him so that only his face was showing. She wrapped her arms around him, shielding him from the dangerous light and from the falling debris that was coming off of the ceiling.
"Noa, what are you doing?!" Vahn tried to push her off of him. "Run!"
Noa shook her head stubbornly, closing her eyes in pain. "I'm not leaving you!!! It's not your turn to suffer because of me! You have done so much for me, even sacrificing yourself when I thought you were dead!" She wept, resting her face against his chest. She couldn't handle it. Why, after all the years of waiting, now that she has found him, she has to leave him again? If he has to die, then he has to take her with him, even if it hurts to leave Cort. Gala can still take care of him.
Vahn looked down on her. "Don't do this, Noa. Don't do this to me. You dying does not answer your question of whether you and I can still be together. You still have to take care of Cort. You have so many things to do before you die."
Noa shook her head again, this time, not answering. She just laid on top of him, closing her eyes in despair, not wanting to reply to the truth he had said. She could feel the power closing in, the force so large and so deep, that Noa felt like she was being pulled in.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over them. Vahn looked behind her and noticed a tall blond man standing just a few feet away from them. Soft, wavy brown hair was the last thing Noa saw before she prepared for pain. She heard a shout, a familiar voice shouting a name.
"ARCH!" Liza yelled.
Noa and Vahn looked up. Arch was standing, both his palms holding back the green ball, his eyebrows sweating in pain. "I got it!" Arch spoke, glancing behind him at the two. "Liza!"
Liza nodded and ran towards them, but not before Kaseru made a move in, casting thunder on her. Liza jumped back and glanced at the man, glaring at him. Kaseru just smirked. Gala, who had no other choice, kicked Cort at the side as hard as he could, forcing the man to let go of him and coughed from the choke hold and put Cort unconscious by hitting him at the side of his head. Cort landed on the ground with a loud thud, but he was not injured. The same went to him as Kaseru cast ice on him. Gala stayed in on spot, frozen. Liza gasped. None of them could move. She could not cast fire on Gala to defrost him, because Kaseru was ready for everything to bounce back her attack with a reflect spell. She cursed quietly to herself and glanced at Arch, who was in pain.
Arch closed his eyes. "Vahn... I promised I would come for you. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to talk to you again."
Vahn looked at him curiously. Who was he?
"You should remember me, Vahn," he spoke, reading his mind. "I was with you the whole time you battled Seru monsters and helped you gain their power."
Vahn's eyes widened. It couldn't be. He's gone, he thought.
"I am never gone. Not in a million years. Do you remember what I said before leaving Legaia? I told you that wherever you are, even if I am not there with you, I will always be with you, even if it means being reborn to another body."
Reborn...Vahn thought. He remembered now. But how is that possible? How can a Ra-Seru be reborn into a person?
"It is because of your heart, Vahn, of your hopes and faith in us that brought us back. Liza, Kamen and I ARE the Ra-Serus, reborn again to protect you three that battled to save the lives of the world. Noa... Terra said she will always be with you and she's right there."
Noa opened her eyes and looked up over her shoulder. Liza was standing there, unable to move. Her eyes were set on her, lying there unmoving. "Terra..." She noticed the way Liza's eyes glowed green and how her hair had a silver glint to it, just like the time when Terra was just a wolf. However, despite the similarities, she was still in doubt.
"I understand your doubts, Noa," Liza spoke. "I understand that I have not been there for you, but I have. I was there, watching you all this time, protecting you. I was Liza for you and you took all that trouble to be Giselle, while Cort had to be Zane." She laughed at herself. "You have grown so much. I want you to believe what Arch is saying. You too, Vahn and you too, Gala. We need your hope and your faith in us that we can do anything."
"Then, I will put my hopes in all of you." Arch and Liza looked up at the sound of Kamen's voice from somewhere. Kamen entered the never-ending tomb and glanced at the people around him. "Tough crowd," he said jokingly. With quick speed and great power, Kamen blew the green force away from Arch's hand, relieving him from the stress and glanced at Gala. He quickly defrosted him and looked at Kaseru. "Kaseru, you are a disappointment to all the Ra-Serus."
Kaseru gritted his teeth. "You Ra-Serus are a disappointment to all those Ra-Serus who sacrificed their lives to save other Ra-Serus! How can you say I am, when all I am doing is keeping our kind from the filthy, greedy hands of humans? That is all they want, Kamen! Don't you see? They possess our minds with our kindness and they use it as if we were dogs on a leash!"
"You're wrong!" Liza spoke. She glanced at Arch, who was helping Noa and Vahn up on their feet. "Humans are not like that. They are good beings. There are those who want to save the world from evil. There are those who want to plant trees and relax in the sun."
Kaseru glared at Liza. "And there are those who want to destroy us! Those three brainwashed you! They are nothing but dirt!" He lifted up his arm and jerked his head towards Vahn and Noa. "Chain Circle!" he yelled. Black clouds surrounded the two. Liza quickly moved to her feet, taking her side in front of Noa and crossed her arms together in front of her. The same applied to Arch, his arms were also crossed. Large daggers suddenly appeared around them, the sharp ends facing the targets. Upon his word, all daggers flew towards them, ready to kill them instantly. Arch and Liza glanced at each other and nodded and in unison, yelled, "Black hole!" A round black, circle, surrounded the two targets, forcing some of the daggers to be engulfed inside the black hole. However, Kaseru made it look like two or three daggers missed the targets, and when he moved his left hand, the daggers turned and faced the other way, towards the two Guardians. It was too late for Arch and Liza to move, when the two daggers pierced through their hearts. The two were in complete shock, so were those watching the brutal murder. Kaseru just laughed and watched the two fall to their knees. They fell on the ground face first, blood spilling on the floor.
Arch reached for Liza's hand and held it in his, his eyes on her and her eyes on him. "Liza..." he whispered. "One last thing we need to do."
Liza nodded. She knew what he meant. "Yes." Both of them closed their eyes and with their last strengths, cast a very powerful beam. Their bodies glowed and by the time all the power was transferred to one beam, a large white ball surrounded them. They opened their eyes again and looked at Kaseru, as if they knew what they were doing and smiled. Kaseru looked at them curiously.
"It's over, Kaseru," Kamen whispered, wiping tears from his eyes as he watched his best friend's and his sister's aura fading away from the world as the large ball zipped towards Kaseru. It hit Kaseru like a time bomb, so he did not have time to react. Kamen pulled the adult Cort and the two children at the side for safety and cast shield on them and to Noa, Vahn and Gala. Kaseru yelled in pain and withered away along with the wall behind him. The light gleamed in seconds and died away. The echo from Kaseru's screams was enough to bear. Vahn wrapped his arms around Noa and waited for the screams to fade, closing his eyes. Was it really over?
When the attack was final and when everything was silent, Kamen unshielded everyone and approached the spot where Liza and Arch ha died, their bodies now replaced with items, his eyes still holding that same sadness. He picked both the necklace and the ring up and looked around, making sure everyone was all right. Cort was back to the same four-year-old boy and the two children caught in this mess were stirring from their unconsciousness. Vahn and Noa were moving from their spots, while Gala was just getting over the defrosting part, his body shaking from the attack. First, Kamen approached Vahn and Noa and handed them the items, a golden ring with a red, oval stone on it to Vahn and a round, green gem necklace to Noa. "Take this," he said. "I am sure they wanted you to have it to remember them by."
Noa looked at the necklace and frowned. Was she really Terra? How could she have doubted that she was Terra? She was. After all, she died for her. She sacrificed her life just to show her that she was the same Ra-Seru that protected her all those years ago. She glanced at Vahn, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"It's over now. Kaseru can never walk in this earth again," Kamen spoke. He turned to the direction where Gala was, helping the children up on their feet and unfastened the belt around his waist. It was a black, leather belt with a blue stone in the middle. He handed the belt to Gala and nodded. "With Kaseru gone, I must now leave this world as well to meet my best friend and my sister. I give this to you, Gala. After all, you deserve to have this. I promised my Osma self I would."
Gala stared at him, taking the belt from his hand. "Osma?"
Kamen nodded and said nothing, before a light shone around him. He winked at his friend and faded like a dream. Gala watched the light take him into the skies and into the world where Ra-Serus go when they died.
"Cort!" Noa ran towards Cort, who was just up on his feet and smothered him with a fierce hug, tears running down her cheeks. "Cort, I'm glad you're back!"
Cort looked at her, confused. He didn't know what she was talking about, but he just hugged her back anyway. He felt another arm around him, this time, a bit larger. He did not need a reason to know who it was that was joining the hug, because once he felt the warmth of their bodies, he knew that he was home and that they were together again...all three of them. Vahn, Noa and himself.
Noa closed her eyes. They were together! All of them! She was glad. Tears of joy covered her face and before she could stop herself, she wept in Cort's hair and smiled. "I'm so glad, we're all here. Thank you, Terra. Thank you, Meta and Osma. Thank you..."
GoodGurl: Wooh! Finished! Now the last chapter would just be a short look on the upcoming sequel to 'What the future lies between us,' and that is...yes.... The continuation of the story, but this time, it's all about a certain someone...don't worry, it's not Kaseru! LOL. It's a surprise! :D
Chapter 9 - The end...?
"Are you sure this is what you want, Noa?" Gala turned his head towards the girl, his question answered by a slight nod. Noa approached Liza and Arch quietly and looked into the older woman's eyes.
"Where are they now?" she asked.
Liza placed a hand on her shoulder. "We promise to protect you with our lives, Noa. Once Kaseru is defeated, there will be no Kingdom for you, Princess-"
"I don't care about Conkram!" Noa yelled, interrupting Liza. She slapped her hand away from her shoulder and looked at her angrily. "Don't call me Princess, Liza. I asked you a question! Where is he now?!"
Liza nodded. "You know the place, Noa. It is where you grew up. If he's there, then both Vahn and Cort will be there as well."
Noa's eyes glowed. "The mountain..."
"Since Terra died in those mountains, her soul still lingers there and with a soul of a Ra-Seru still active, along with the blood of the one who summoned the Serus, combining them will bring back the deadly mist and the Serus," Arch explained. Liza glanced at Arch. He never mentioned anything else other than her spirit lingered. Noa, may never know the truth. Somehow, she'll eventually tell her.
Gala clenched his fists, glaring at Arch. "Who is this Kaseru? Why does he want to revive Conkram?!"
Liza turned to face Gala. "Conkram is the place where evil grows and Kaseru is one of them, that is why he is there. Long time ago, an evil sorcerer was sealed in the depths of Conkram's earth. He wanted Conkram for himself, but we... Arch and I and the many warriors who fought against him and his Seru henchmen and his power of his mist, sealed his fate into a tomb. With his power however, he was able to connect with one of the royal family..." She paused, glancing at Noa. "He was able to make contact with Cort when he was a child and persuaded him to open the tomb. But, it was not planned that Cort had a strong heart and had a will of his own. Cort alone released only the mist, revived it and was controlled by its power. Soon, the Serus were released, bringing havoc upon the world, but Kaseru was still trapped inside his tomb, never to be seen again."
Mei gasped. "But... how did he escape?" She glanced at Arch to explain this time.
"That is a mystery to us. We were awakened by the powers of the Earth and of the Genesis trees from our sleep and were sent to destroy Kaseru again. They never explained how they escaped, but they mentioned that someone of his blood line was able to release him."
"Someone of his blood line? Are you saying that he had a child before he died?" Gala asked, clenching his fists tighter. Why did this have to happen to suddenly without him knowing? Why, the master of the monks did not know about this?
"Yes, apparently. We do not know who, unfortunately."
"Then, we've wasted enough time thinking about this. We have to go to the mountains and get them back..." Noa held a firm expression on her face, but everyone present knew she was in pain within, in pain for losing both the people she loves.
When she said those words, Liza saw the determination in her eyes as well. 'You've grown up so much, Noa,' she thought. She looked at Arch and nodded, then turned back to the other three. "Then, let's go."
"I'm coming with you too," Mei spoke up. Noa and Gala both looked at her, both shaking their heads. "Why not?" she asked, glancing at both her friends.
Noa placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's much too dangerous for you, Mei. There are monsters that still lurk in that area."
Mei sighed. "All right. Please be careful you two."
Gala and Noa nodded in unison.
****************
"Hey kid... do you have something to say?" Kaseru turned his head from where he sat and glared at the little girl watching an unconscious Cort on the floor of the small, glass room. The girl looked at him, wide-eyed.
"What have you done to him?" the girl spoke, frowning. She never wanted this. She wished she were never part of HIS family! Jack... "What have you done with Jack?!"
Kaseru smirked, turning his eyes towards a body across from him, his head bleeding. "He would not co-operate, so I let him rest for a while." He smiled evilly towards the girl. "So if you do the same, you don't need to rest. Will you behave, Mari? I am... after all... part of your family." He stood up and approached the little girl in large steps. The girl, Mari was a better listener than her brother ever was. A tear flowed down Mari's cheeks and was unaware that Kaseru was watching her closely. She felt him sit down beside her, wiping her tears away with his large hand. "Don't cry now, Mari. As soon as the mist comes, I'll let you do whatever you want."
Mari looked up, more tears coming down from her eyes. "Why do you want to hurt people? We're people!"
Kaseru smirked, standing up. "That's where you are wrong, Mari... We are not like people. We are far greater beings than those stupid humans... You, me, your family and Cort. You see, Mari..." Kaseru turned towards the direction of Cort. He noticed that Cort was getting up and he made a smile of satisfaction on his face. "Cort made us so we can be with him, so we can part of him."
"No..." Mari whispered silently, whimpering. "Mommy..."
"There's no point in crying for your mommy, now, Mari. Thanks to your brother, Cort feels anger in his heart so the REAL Cort can come out of his shell. Look...he's getting up." Kaseru lifted up a hand and pointed to where Cort was. Mari looked up and gasped. Cort was now up, his hands by his sides, closed up into fists.
"What? What's wrong with him?"
Kaseru laughed. "He's just finding who he is, that's all. That chamber itself has memories of him when he was an adult and when he ruled over the mist. He is the Prince of Darkness after all. Our master!" He lifted up his hands triumphantly and cackled. "Soon, the humans will kneel at our feet and they will beg for mercy! Soon, the Serus will come!"
"NO! I don't want the Serus to come! They are evil! We're not evil!"
"Oh yes, we are!" Kaseru jerked his head towards her. "You see, Mari, we ARE Serus. We ARE the descendants of the Serus. Thanks to me, I was able to create a family more greater than humans itself and they ARE the Serus!"
Mari stood up. "NO! You're wrong! We are humans, not Serus that would kill anyone in their path! We have emotions; pain, love, feelings that cannot compare to any other beings in the universe! We are humans, Kaseru!"
Kaseru glared down at her. He kicked her by the side, sending her flying towards the spot where her brother was taken down. Mari fell unconscious. He shook his head disappointingly. "I thought I could trust you, Mari, but I guess not. You would have been the greatest heir to the throne of what will be my kingdom!" Kaseru turned back towards the glass chamber and watched as Cort grew in height, faster than light. His eyes and hair grew darker, his hair into a darker shade of brown and his eyes into a darker shade of grey. Kaseru smiled. "Soon, my master. Soon, you are once again the ruler!" Cort was the one. Since the moment he wanted to take him and make him free him, he knew Cort would be the one to bring his mists and his Serus to life. For a long time, for the years he has been freed, he had watched Cort from the day he became a man and kept himself secret from the Ra-Serus so he could see Cort in his eyes and watch him like a father watches his son. The moment Cort took one hold of a Seru and ordered it to do something, that's when Kaseru knew, he was the one...the one the prophechies had told him that one day, a master, far more greater than he will come. His master. "Master..." he whispered through the glass.
Cort glanced at him, his eyes firm and hard against Kaseru's own. He walked to the door and knocked hard on the cold metal. Kaseru ran to open it and was greeted by a hard force against his stomach, sending him flying into the air. Kaseru stood up quickly, regaining from his pain and kneeled down in front of him. "Master, I have freed you once again. Let us open the gates of the mist and free it and free the Serus."
Cort smirked. "Is this what you awakened me for?"
Kaseru looked up. "Yes, Master. I have waited four long years to finally find a key to opening you and I found it in the boy inside you."
"The boy?" Cort raised an eyebrow. "What boy?"
"When you disappeared, Master, I did not know what to do and when I saw that girl with a baby in her arms, I knew it was you inside. I knew that if I made you remember who were before, then I could free you."
"You... are you not a sorcerer?"
Kaseru nodded. "Yes, I am, sir. But you are the Prince of Conkram and I bow before you, my Lord." He stretched his back and bowed even further on the ground.
The man nodded. "I see." He looked up and found a man with blue hair unconscious and hanging on the wall. "Who is that man?"
Kaseru looked up and nodded. "My Lord, he is the one who dares to defy me from freeing you. He wanted to keep you from coming."
Cort smirked and approached the man slowly, studying the man. "He looks familiar to me, somehow."
Damn! Kaseru thought. He must not remember his innocent self. I should have destroyed his innocent self and surround him more with his destructive self. "How is he familiar to you, my Lord?" He slowly got up to grab the large rock lying beside him. He had no other choice. If he remembers everything, even the man and his sister, then he has to kill the innocence in Cort. He slowly crept behind him, ready to strike him the rock, unconscious.
"Do you dare let me forget my memories, Kaseru?!" Cort turned, forcing Kaseru to stop in his tracks, his arms high in the air with the rock in his hands. Cort's eyes grew angrier and with all his might, without even touching him, knocked him into the air. "How dare you!!! Is there something you wish to destroy of me?!"
Kaseru gritted his teeth and sword underneath his breath. "No, not at all, Cort, Master. Now...Master, I wish of something in return for freeing you."
Cort turned to face him. "What do you wish?"
Kaseru grinned. "I wish to free my family, Master. I wish for you to find me the mist generator so once again you can be the master of this world."
Cort stared at him. The older man's eyes seemed surreal in a way, seemed too good to be true when Kaseru stepped closer to him. He could hear the man's voice in his head; he could hear him speaking, as if his mind was no longer there. What was going on? he thought.
"My Master, you will bring me the mist generator. Where is it?" Cort closed his eyes. Kaseru breathed a victory in his head. Yes! It was working! Just a little longer, your highness, he thought. After you find me the mist, then I can free you and you can rule with me. Kaseru stepped closer and slowly put his hands on both his temples. Cort's eyes became blank and his mind was not his own, but of Kaseru's. The older man now owns his mind. "Where is the mist generator, master?"
Cort blankly turned and nodded, leading Kaseru to a dark wall, just near where Vahn was left hanging to the left. He pointed with no thought whatsoever and said, "Here lies what you are looking for," he spoke.
Kaseru's eyes widened. He knew from the moment he laid eyes on that particular side of the wall. The different texture of it grew suspicion in him, the way it was harder than the usual soil in the wall. If it was not the one, then the wall itself would have withered away due to rainfall, but this wall did no such thing. It seemed solid from the many years it has been there. Kaseru smiled. "Yes! I found it! Soon, our family, Cort, will come through this wall and wreak havoc to those pathetic humans!"
*****************
Vahn opened his eyes, stirring in and out of his consciousness. He could hear a hiss from somewhere and when he turned, he noticed Kaseru and a man he has dreaded to see standing in front of a wall beside him. He wanted to open his mouth, wanted to cry out to Noa and wished he had come home to her instead of taking that job to find missing people in this mountain. He never wanted to come to this mountain, but his instincts told him that there was something going on in the mountain, the mountain where Noa spent most of her years. He wished now that he never listened to his instincts.
"Yes! I found it! Soon, our family, Cort, will come through this wall and wreak havoc to those pathetic humans!" Vahn could hear the man talk. He grimaced, thinking of getting out of here and smashing the man to pieces, but how can he when he was strapped to a wall? 'Meta...' he thought. 'I wish you were here still.'
****************
'Meta... I wish you were here still.' Arch paused in his tracks and looked up into the mountains. "Vahn? I can hear Vahn," he spoke out loud.
Noa and Gala turned their heads and looked at Arch curiously.
Liza stared at her boyfriend and shook her head, hoping none of the two could see her reaction towards Arch, however, and Noa had seen it. They were hiding something that they both were not telling. Liza glanced at Noa, who was staring at her, wondering what was going on, but she just smiled and nodded. "We Guardians can hear many thoughts and even pain from other people. That is one of the powers Legaia has given us when we were created to protect the planet. Let's move on." She walked pass Noa, dragging Arch along with her. She turned to him slowly and frowned. "Did you have to say that out loud?" she whispered to him.
Arch sighed. "I'm sorry, it just came to me. Vahn needs my help."
"We know that Vahn needs our help, so does Cort! You have to keep your personal feelings aside from all this, Arch, or our job as Guardians are over."
"Liza..." Noa called. Liza and Arch looked at each other. "Liza!"
Liza turned and smiled. "What is it, Noa?"
"What's going on, Liza? Who are you?"
The woman sighed. "Noa, if I tell you, then we will never be able to leave this world in peace..."
"What? What do you mean?" Gala asked.
Liza shook her head. "You'll find out soon enough. We have to get going."
Noa and Gala looked at each other.
****************
He smirked. "Hmph! So you think you can get through this place easily, huh? Why do you, Ra-Serus, intend to help these humans when you can do so much better?" He watched them fight off a large monster he sent their way and enjoyed the show for a while, until Gala destroyed it with his powerful Art. He should send something bigger and more cunning than the previous monsters he sent, somehow, it was easy for them. "Hm...you're helping these humans, not only physically, but spiritually as well? Clever indeed." Kaseru frowned when another one of his creations was destroyed. He was getting bored with the show so he turned towards his mist generator wall and glanced at his dwarves digging a hall through it. "What's taking so long you idiots?!" He was running out of patients with the small dwarves he created. They were of no use at all. The only thing they were good at was digging, not listening to orders.
One out of the seven of them turned and glared at him bravely. "We are trying as hard as we can, Master!" he hissed, pointing his shovel at him angrily.
Kaseru smirked. "So you think you can just talk to me with that tone? I created you bumbling half-wits with my staff and I can easily kill you with it!" The dwarf's face faltered in disbelief. "Now, get back to work!" The dwarf obediently started digging again.
It was another minute that another dwarf finally spoke, "Master! We hit the jackpot!"
Kaseru sighed in relief, turning his whole body around to face them. He approached the wall quietly and placed a palm on it, feeling heat radiating from the soil. "I feel it. Good job, everyone! Now you can all go away!" He clicked his left hand together and the dwarves simply disappeared with a blink of an eye. "Yes!" He turned to face Cort, who was watching from behind with no thoughts. "It is done, Master! We can finally rule together this insolent planet and be one! We have found the Generator! I knew you would never let me down! Now...to open it!" He stepped back and pointed his staff towards the wall, closing his eyes suddenly to chant the password to opening the door to the generator. Before he could finish one last word, something sharp hit him at the side of his face. Kaseru cried in pain and turned around, the blood from the wound dripping down his robe.
"It is over, Kaseru! Time to bring you home!" Arch stood, bow in hands, ready to strike the sorcerer again. Liza, Noa and Gala stood beside him and they quickly ran, with their fists and weapons ready to charge at any monster Kaseru sends towards them. Kaseru acted quickly, casting shield on himself to protect him and Cort and fired thunder towards Arch. Arch dodged that quickly, firing one of his arrows towards the ropes that were holding Vahn hostage on the wall. With accuracy, the arrow shot through the ropes, freeing both sides of Vahn's hands. Vahn fell on the ground hard, but the soft earth broke his fall and Arch felt relief coming through his heart. He noticed Kaseru with the corner of his eyes ready to strike him with another blow of thunder, but not before he forced his hand down with his arrow. "Gala! Quickly, take Kaseru down!"
With one swift move, Gala grabbed Kaseru's neck, trapping him against the wall behind him, forcing Kaseru to let go of his staff in surprise. He glared at the older man who has been torturing Vahn and Cort's mind. "Time to pay, old man!" he whispered. Kaseru grinned, shocking Gala at his stubbornness.
"No, I think you should pay!" Kaseru hissed, smirking. Before Gala could react, something strong and tall was gripping both his arms. Gala was force against the wall, thus, freeing Kaseru from his grasp and was forced to see who had trapped him.
"Cort..." Gala whispered. Upon hearing Cort's name, Noa looked up and gasped at the sight of a tall man grasping his hand hard against Gala's neck. She opened her mouth to speak, but when she heard Vahn moan, she was forced to turn back to him.
"Vahn!" Noa whispered. She hugged him as tightly as she could, tears running down her cheeks. She was glad he was alive. After all this time, he was trapped in someone's lair, tortured, who knows how long, by Kaseru.
Vahn opened his eyes, his heart beating at the sight of Noa. "Noa..." He was glad she was here. He lifted up a hand and caressed her cheek, making sure he wasn't dreaming. "I'm not dreaming," he whispered. "You really are here."
Noa nodded. "Yes, I am." She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes. Never again will she part from him. Never again will he leave her side.
"Noa, watch out!" Noa looked up once she heard Liza's voice. Something bright and round was coming towards them. Gasping, she quickly stood up, lifting Vahn up with all her might, but he was too heavy and to tall for her to take him somewhere safe. The green ball was getting brighter and larger in her eyes. Vahn tried getting up as well, but his arms and legs were too tired to move. He had been hanging up that wall for three straight weeks now and he has not eaten right. "NOA!" the girl heard Liza scream.
"Noa..." The red head looked down at Vahn, his mouth lifting into a sad smile. "I'm so glad to see you again, but go on ahead and leave me. I don't want to be the reason why you're not with Cort."
The girl shook her head. "I'm not leaving you. I didn't come here to leave you behind. I came here to be with you and Cort." She grabbed both Vahn's arms, trying again to move him, but as she looked up, the same green light was coming closer and it was much too close for comfort. It was too late. Noa kneeled down beside Vahn and hovered her body over him so that only his face was showing. She wrapped her arms around him, shielding him from the dangerous light and from the falling debris that was coming off of the ceiling.
"Noa, what are you doing?!" Vahn tried to push her off of him. "Run!"
Noa shook her head stubbornly, closing her eyes in pain. "I'm not leaving you!!! It's not your turn to suffer because of me! You have done so much for me, even sacrificing yourself when I thought you were dead!" She wept, resting her face against his chest. She couldn't handle it. Why, after all the years of waiting, now that she has found him, she has to leave him again? If he has to die, then he has to take her with him, even if it hurts to leave Cort. Gala can still take care of him.
Vahn looked down on her. "Don't do this, Noa. Don't do this to me. You dying does not answer your question of whether you and I can still be together. You still have to take care of Cort. You have so many things to do before you die."
Noa shook her head again, this time, not answering. She just laid on top of him, closing her eyes in despair, not wanting to reply to the truth he had said. She could feel the power closing in, the force so large and so deep, that Noa felt like she was being pulled in.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over them. Vahn looked behind her and noticed a tall blond man standing just a few feet away from them. Soft, wavy brown hair was the last thing Noa saw before she prepared for pain. She heard a shout, a familiar voice shouting a name.
"ARCH!" Liza yelled.
Noa and Vahn looked up. Arch was standing, both his palms holding back the green ball, his eyebrows sweating in pain. "I got it!" Arch spoke, glancing behind him at the two. "Liza!"
Liza nodded and ran towards them, but not before Kaseru made a move in, casting thunder on her. Liza jumped back and glanced at the man, glaring at him. Kaseru just smirked. Gala, who had no other choice, kicked Cort at the side as hard as he could, forcing the man to let go of him and coughed from the choke hold and put Cort unconscious by hitting him at the side of his head. Cort landed on the ground with a loud thud, but he was not injured. The same went to him as Kaseru cast ice on him. Gala stayed in on spot, frozen. Liza gasped. None of them could move. She could not cast fire on Gala to defrost him, because Kaseru was ready for everything to bounce back her attack with a reflect spell. She cursed quietly to herself and glanced at Arch, who was in pain.
Arch closed his eyes. "Vahn... I promised I would come for you. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to talk to you again."
Vahn looked at him curiously. Who was he?
"You should remember me, Vahn," he spoke, reading his mind. "I was with you the whole time you battled Seru monsters and helped you gain their power."
Vahn's eyes widened. It couldn't be. He's gone, he thought.
"I am never gone. Not in a million years. Do you remember what I said before leaving Legaia? I told you that wherever you are, even if I am not there with you, I will always be with you, even if it means being reborn to another body."
Reborn...Vahn thought. He remembered now. But how is that possible? How can a Ra-Seru be reborn into a person?
"It is because of your heart, Vahn, of your hopes and faith in us that brought us back. Liza, Kamen and I ARE the Ra-Serus, reborn again to protect you three that battled to save the lives of the world. Noa... Terra said she will always be with you and she's right there."
Noa opened her eyes and looked up over her shoulder. Liza was standing there, unable to move. Her eyes were set on her, lying there unmoving. "Terra..." She noticed the way Liza's eyes glowed green and how her hair had a silver glint to it, just like the time when Terra was just a wolf. However, despite the similarities, she was still in doubt.
"I understand your doubts, Noa," Liza spoke. "I understand that I have not been there for you, but I have. I was there, watching you all this time, protecting you. I was Liza for you and you took all that trouble to be Giselle, while Cort had to be Zane." She laughed at herself. "You have grown so much. I want you to believe what Arch is saying. You too, Vahn and you too, Gala. We need your hope and your faith in us that we can do anything."
"Then, I will put my hopes in all of you." Arch and Liza looked up at the sound of Kamen's voice from somewhere. Kamen entered the never-ending tomb and glanced at the people around him. "Tough crowd," he said jokingly. With quick speed and great power, Kamen blew the green force away from Arch's hand, relieving him from the stress and glanced at Gala. He quickly defrosted him and looked at Kaseru. "Kaseru, you are a disappointment to all the Ra-Serus."
Kaseru gritted his teeth. "You Ra-Serus are a disappointment to all those Ra-Serus who sacrificed their lives to save other Ra-Serus! How can you say I am, when all I am doing is keeping our kind from the filthy, greedy hands of humans? That is all they want, Kamen! Don't you see? They possess our minds with our kindness and they use it as if we were dogs on a leash!"
"You're wrong!" Liza spoke. She glanced at Arch, who was helping Noa and Vahn up on their feet. "Humans are not like that. They are good beings. There are those who want to save the world from evil. There are those who want to plant trees and relax in the sun."
Kaseru glared at Liza. "And there are those who want to destroy us! Those three brainwashed you! They are nothing but dirt!" He lifted up his arm and jerked his head towards Vahn and Noa. "Chain Circle!" he yelled. Black clouds surrounded the two. Liza quickly moved to her feet, taking her side in front of Noa and crossed her arms together in front of her. The same applied to Arch, his arms were also crossed. Large daggers suddenly appeared around them, the sharp ends facing the targets. Upon his word, all daggers flew towards them, ready to kill them instantly. Arch and Liza glanced at each other and nodded and in unison, yelled, "Black hole!" A round black, circle, surrounded the two targets, forcing some of the daggers to be engulfed inside the black hole. However, Kaseru made it look like two or three daggers missed the targets, and when he moved his left hand, the daggers turned and faced the other way, towards the two Guardians. It was too late for Arch and Liza to move, when the two daggers pierced through their hearts. The two were in complete shock, so were those watching the brutal murder. Kaseru just laughed and watched the two fall to their knees. They fell on the ground face first, blood spilling on the floor.
Arch reached for Liza's hand and held it in his, his eyes on her and her eyes on him. "Liza..." he whispered. "One last thing we need to do."
Liza nodded. She knew what he meant. "Yes." Both of them closed their eyes and with their last strengths, cast a very powerful beam. Their bodies glowed and by the time all the power was transferred to one beam, a large white ball surrounded them. They opened their eyes again and looked at Kaseru, as if they knew what they were doing and smiled. Kaseru looked at them curiously.
"It's over, Kaseru," Kamen whispered, wiping tears from his eyes as he watched his best friend's and his sister's aura fading away from the world as the large ball zipped towards Kaseru. It hit Kaseru like a time bomb, so he did not have time to react. Kamen pulled the adult Cort and the two children at the side for safety and cast shield on them and to Noa, Vahn and Gala. Kaseru yelled in pain and withered away along with the wall behind him. The light gleamed in seconds and died away. The echo from Kaseru's screams was enough to bear. Vahn wrapped his arms around Noa and waited for the screams to fade, closing his eyes. Was it really over?
When the attack was final and when everything was silent, Kamen unshielded everyone and approached the spot where Liza and Arch ha died, their bodies now replaced with items, his eyes still holding that same sadness. He picked both the necklace and the ring up and looked around, making sure everyone was all right. Cort was back to the same four-year-old boy and the two children caught in this mess were stirring from their unconsciousness. Vahn and Noa were moving from their spots, while Gala was just getting over the defrosting part, his body shaking from the attack. First, Kamen approached Vahn and Noa and handed them the items, a golden ring with a red, oval stone on it to Vahn and a round, green gem necklace to Noa. "Take this," he said. "I am sure they wanted you to have it to remember them by."
Noa looked at the necklace and frowned. Was she really Terra? How could she have doubted that she was Terra? She was. After all, she died for her. She sacrificed her life just to show her that she was the same Ra-Seru that protected her all those years ago. She glanced at Vahn, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"It's over now. Kaseru can never walk in this earth again," Kamen spoke. He turned to the direction where Gala was, helping the children up on their feet and unfastened the belt around his waist. It was a black, leather belt with a blue stone in the middle. He handed the belt to Gala and nodded. "With Kaseru gone, I must now leave this world as well to meet my best friend and my sister. I give this to you, Gala. After all, you deserve to have this. I promised my Osma self I would."
Gala stared at him, taking the belt from his hand. "Osma?"
Kamen nodded and said nothing, before a light shone around him. He winked at his friend and faded like a dream. Gala watched the light take him into the skies and into the world where Ra-Serus go when they died.
"Cort!" Noa ran towards Cort, who was just up on his feet and smothered him with a fierce hug, tears running down her cheeks. "Cort, I'm glad you're back!"
Cort looked at her, confused. He didn't know what she was talking about, but he just hugged her back anyway. He felt another arm around him, this time, a bit larger. He did not need a reason to know who it was that was joining the hug, because once he felt the warmth of their bodies, he knew that he was home and that they were together again...all three of them. Vahn, Noa and himself.
Noa closed her eyes. They were together! All of them! She was glad. Tears of joy covered her face and before she could stop herself, she wept in Cort's hair and smiled. "I'm so glad, we're all here. Thank you, Terra. Thank you, Meta and Osma. Thank you..."
GoodGurl: Wooh! Finished! Now the last chapter would just be a short look on the upcoming sequel to 'What the future lies between us,' and that is...yes.... The continuation of the story, but this time, it's all about a certain someone...don't worry, it's not Kaseru! LOL. It's a surprise! :D